Oil Shortages Escalate Amid Iran Conflict, Trump Urges Europe to Secure Its Own Oil
President Trump has intensified pressure on Iran following a joint U.S.-Israel attack, recently releasing footage of the strike on the Isfahan nuclear facility. Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized the need for a change in the Iranian regime’s behavior. In a related note, FBI Special Agent Jennifer Runyan from Detroit has pointed out that the assault on a Michigan synagogue on March 12 appears to have been inspired by Hezbollah, raising concerns about domestic terrorism alongside budget disputes related to the Department of Homeland Security.
As Iran finds itself increasingly isolated in the Gulf region, reports have emerged indicating a strengthening of its ties with Georgia, a former Soviet republic. Traditionally viewed as a candidate for European Union and NATO membership, Georgia is now seemingly inching closer to Tehran.
According to Giorgi Kandelaki, a former Georgian lawmaker, Iran has established a considerable sphere of influence within Georgia, encompassing groups that are under U.S. sanctions for extremism. He noted that these entities are often seen as extensions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Kandelaki, who co-authored a recent report with the Hudson Institute, highlighted that Georgia’s shift towards Iran poses risks not only to Georgian society but also to U.S. interests in the region. He reiterated that, despite a strong pro-American sentiment among the Georgian populace, the current trajectory could set a troubling precedent.
Although Georgia maintains a stance of diplomatic neutrality, the Hudson report outlines Iran’s growing involvement in various sectors in Georgia—using it as a base for intelligence operations and to infiltrate religious, educational, and cultural institutions.
In a not-so-distant protest, anti-war activists in London rallied, highlighting the unexpected rise of Iranian ties. Georgia’s political landscape has witnessed shifts following the end of President Salome Zurabichvili’s term, as the Georgian Dream party, which is pro-Russian, assumes greater control.
The Iranian Union Against Nuclear Weapons states that Iran has developed the Georgian branch of al-Mustafa University since 2007. This institution serves as a crucial platform for disseminating the ideology of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, abroad.
The U.S. Treasury Department noted in 2020 that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps utilizes this university for international recruitment, functioning to advance Iran’s ideological and security agendas.
Georgia, having fostered a significant relationship with the U.S. since the 2003 Rose Revolution, contributed troops to missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, reports indicate that under the Georgian Dream party’s governance since 2012, ties with Iran have strengthened, especially following the transition to new leadership in late 2024.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s visit to Iran in 2024 during the Iranian president’s funeral, as well as his attendance at the inauguration of current President Masoud Pezeshkian, demonstrates an emerging rapport, with reports suggesting both nations applauded their expanding relations.
Furthermore, Georgian businesses are now importing significant amounts of oil and petroleum products from Iran, a vital economic lifeline for the Iranian regime as well as its military ambitions. Reports from 2024 revealed that Iran’s oil revenue constituted a large portion of its total exports, with numerous Georgian companies facilitating this flow despite international sanctions.
Experts point out that Georgian firms are circumventing banking sanctions by making cash transactions for Iranian oil, which directly funds Iran’s regional operations. Despite inquiries, officials in Georgia did not provide responses on this matter, nor did Iran’s U.N. representatives offer any comments regarding the evolving relationship.
